Transcript for: Lab Safety: PPE and Risk Management
[Narrator] The personal
protective equipment, PPE, worn by actors in this video was selected based on a risk assessment
of the chemicals used in the experiment and conditions
simulated in the activity. In scenes where the
presenter did not wear PPE while in the lab, all chemicals were removed to
eliminate chemical hazards. (upbeat music) - In this video, you'll learn
general methods and strategies for minimizing risk when using
chemicals and lab equipment. Minimizing risk is part of a
larger process called RAMP. RAMP stands for recognize
hazards, assess risks, minimize risks and
prepare for emergencies. For this video, we'll assume you've already completed
the first two steps of RAMP, recognize hazards and assess risks. (cheerful music) The first step in
minimizing risk is to think about how you could be exposed
to chemicals in the lab. There are four ways chemicals
can enter your body. The first is inhalation, the
most common route of exposure. Some chemicals are used in gas form, which makes it easy to
accidentally inhale them. But many liquid chemicals
also produce a vapor. Some solids even give off fumes. Anytime you smell a chemical,
you are inhaling the gas, but you might not smell all gases. Some have no odor, while others
may be too dilute to smell but still cause harm. The second most common route of exposure is direct contact with the skin or eyes. You can consider these
separate routes of exposure because the tissues of the eye are extremely sensitive to damage. Two less common routes of
exposure are ingesting a chemical and injecting a chemical through the skin. Injection can happen if you cut yourself on broken glassware that is
contaminated with a chemical. Ingestion isn't very common, since tasting, drinking or
eating lab chemicals or food is strictly forbidden in the lab. Once we've identified these
potential routes of exposure, minimizing risks is the next step. (cheerful music) A common way to think about reducing risk is the hierarchy of controls. This inverted pyramid shows
the most effective strategies at the top and the least effective or less reliable at the bottom. At the top of the pyramid is elimination, which is the best way to minimize risk. If there's no hazard,
there's obviously no risk. If we can't completely
eliminate the hazard, we may be able to reduce the scale. In other words, perform a smaller
version of the experiment. That way, if something goes
wrong, the effect will be less. A smaller scale means it's cheaper, too. Substitution can have the
same effect as elimination. For example, if a solvent is flammable, perhaps it can be replaced with another solvent
that is less flammable. Options one and two at
the top of the pyramid have more to do with
designing experiments. Your instructors have probably
considered these already. So let's focus on the lower three options, which are steps you can
take while in the lab to minimize exposure. Remember, strategies that reduce
the likelihood of exposure also reduce the risk. In the lab, engineering controls usually refers to using a fume hood. The main purpose of a hood is
to remove gases and vapors. This lowers the chance of inhalation, as well as fire or explosions. It's important to note that
a hood is most effective only when used correctly. Using any equipment the wrong way could lead to a false sense of security. Check to make sure the hood is on by holding a tissue at
the base of the hood. Always look for a test sticker that tells you the equipment
is being maintained. Also, is the equipment positioned at least six inches away from the sash? This is important so the hood can effectively capture gases and vapors. Are there any unnecessary containers or equipment that could block airflow? Are there stored chemicals
that could catch fire? Is the sash down? Hoods aren't designed to
contain a fiery disaster, but they'll help lessen their impact, particularly when the
sash is fully closed. Administrative controls are
a wide range of behaviors that can help minimize exposure
and lower risk in the lab. Your college or university will have its own set of lab rules. All of these were developed
with risk minimization in mind, and you should know and follow
these rules in your labs. Prepare for each experiment by reading the safety precautions provided in the directions. Follow experimental procedures as written, since they were developed
with safety in mind. Finally, let's talk about personal protective
equipment, PPE and lab dress, the last line of defense
in preventing exposure. Proper eye protection is required in all labs where chemicals are used and there's a possibility
of chemical splash. For most situations, you'll want to wear indirectly
vented splash goggles. Many institutions require these in all chemistry labs at all times. Some allow safety glasses. You need to know and follow
what your institution requires. What about dress? It's really quite simple. To minimize exposure, cover
as much skin as possible. It's smarter to wear long sleeves
rather than short sleeves. Natural fiber materials are best, since synthetic fabrics burn more easily. Many institutions will also
require use of a lab coat. Just like eye protection, you need to know the local rules
for clothing and lab coats. Skin exposure is always possible
when handling chemicals, and gloves are the best
way to prevent this. Lab gloves should be considered one-time use disposable gloves. You should select a
material that is resistant to whatever chemical you're using. They are easy-to-find resources online that describe how various glove materials protect against chemicals. In lab class, the best glove material has usually been determined for you. Your instructor will advise
you on the specific rules for using gloves at your institution. Remember that chemicals can be transferred from your gloves to any item you touch, a calculator, computer or cell phone. Chemicals can also be
transferred to your pen and enter the body if you
place it in your mouth. This kind of chemical transfer is why food and drinks aren't allowed in the lab. Finally, remember to
always remove your gloves before leaving lab and to wash your hands at the end of class. To minimize exposure, it's important to remove gloves correctly so chemicals don't contact your skin. To start, pinch the first glove
to remove close to the wrist and start peeling it off
while turning it inside out. Crumple the removed glove in
the palm of the gloved hand. Now use your ungloved hand
to peel off the second glove and enclose the crumpled one. Discard these used gloves as
directed by your instructor. (upbeat music) When thinking about minimizing risk, what level is acceptable? In your labs, the risks
have likely been reduced to a reasonably low
level by your instructor, but the risks might be medium when using particularly
hazardous chemicals where no good substitute exists. In research labs, the question
of when to accept higher risk is more complicated. You may face this question someday. Staying safe in the lab
requires constant vigilance about hazards and the
steps to minimize risk. Thinking about routes of
exposure, when to use a hood and what PPE to wear
will help keep you safe. To learn more about the
other steps in RAMP, be sure to check out the other
five videos in this series. You can find them by clicking here, checking out the links in the description or visiting acs.org/safetyvideos. - [Director] A take one. - Flammable, keep fire away. SES, computers, keys. Forgot. (upbeat music) Choo, ch, ch, ch, ch, ch, ch. - [Producer] Okay. - Keep going?